A Closer Look at Fastnet Rock

Tara Madgwick - Thursday May 14

The ability to consistently sire Group I winners is the key attribute that sets a legendary sire apart from his peers and Fastnet Rock has that attribute in spades.

Fastnet Rock has been a phenomenal source of G1 winners! Coolmore’s champion sire Fastnet Rock is one of the few Australian bred stallions to achieve high levels of success in both hemispheres, his overall tally of 157 stakes-winners including 39 from his years of service in Ireland.

For the purposes of this story we will just look at his Australian conceived progeny that have excelled over all distances and jurisdictions making Fastnet Rock a phenomenal success both on the track and in the sale ring.

As a proven sire of sires, he has also enjoyed elite success with no fewer than six of his sire sons producing Group I winners led by Hinchinbrook, Foxwedge and Smart Missile, with his champion son Merchant Navy poised to write the next chapter in this part of the Fastnet Rock story.

Turning 19 this year, Fastnet Rock has done all that could be asked of a stallion and his fee this spring of $165,000 is value in the context of his exceptional record.

Fastnet Rock as had at least one Group I winner in every foal crop he has produced and in the case of his game changing third crop, he produced an astonishing six!

His current season two year-olds hold great promise for their classic season and include Group I placed colt Glenfiddich and Group I placed filly Personal, both looming as Guineas type contenders for the future.
 

Crop Year (SH)

Mares Covered / Service Fee

Stakes-Winners/ Best Performers

2006

208/ $55,000

13 SW’s / G1 Wanted, Irish Lights, Rock Classic

2007

194/ $55,000

8 SW’s / G1 Lone Rock

2008

257 / $55,000

13 SW’s / G1 Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Foxwedge, Sea Siren, Planet Rock, Rock ‘n’ Pop

2009

251 / $82,500

16 SW’s / G1 Super Cool, Nechita, Driefontein, Albany Reunion, Your Song

2010

273/ $60,500

15 SW’s / G1 Atlante

2011

188 / $137,500

11 SW’s / G1 First Seal, Amicus, Awesome Rock, Magicool

2012

224 / $132,000

8 SW’s / G1 Dreamforce

2013

208 / $220,000

11 SW’s / G1 Comin’ Through, Heroic Valour

2014

212 / $275,000

11 SW’s / G1 Shoals, Merchant Navy, Unforgotten, Catchy, Age of Fire

2015

189 / FOA

5 SW’s / G1 Avantage

2016

206 / FOA

5 SW’s / G1 Prince Fawaz, Sherwood Forest

2017

149/ FOA

2 SW’s / Rathlin, Unition

2018

163 / FOA

Yearlings

2019

119 / FOA

Foals

2020

98/ $165,000

Yet to be born


Click here for a Closer Look at Snitzel.
Click here for a Closer Look at Pierro.
Click here for a Closer Look at Exceed and Excel.
 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Another Day, Another Stakes-Winner for Wootton Bassett
A homebred for Marc Chan, quality Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Green Impact closed out his juvenile season winning the Group II Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown and he bounced back into the winner’s list at the same venue overnight.
2025 Group I Belmont Stakes - Godolphin Celebrate Victory in Triple Crown Finale
Back in May, Godolphin had a rare magical 48 hours when they won the Group I Newmarket 1000 and 2000 Guineas, plus the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks with all four of those star three year-olds scheduled to race over the last 48 hours – so how did they fare?
Yulong Win G1 Met Mile at Saratoga
Yulong have made high profile bloodstock investments all over the world and while they have a US trained miler headed to Royal Ascot in Carl Spackler (IRE), they have another currently racing in North America and Raging Torrent carried their colours to victory at a rain soaked Saratoga to win the Group I Metropolitan Mile (1m).
Sires With Winners - Friday June 6
Here is the full list of 31 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Easter Segenhoe Stakes Double
Outstanding mare Joliestar (Zoustar) secured a third career G1 win with a staggering come-from-behind victory in today’s Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
New Stakes-Winner for Snitzel – Stradbroke Possible
The Listed $160,000 BRC Spear Chief Quality (1500m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday delivered a new stakes-winner for champion sire Snitzel with progressive four year-old gelding Transatlantic taking victory as a well backed favourite.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 7
Here is the full list of 123 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cosmic Fire a New SW for Cosmic Force
Sunshine Coast trainer Billy Healey was thrilled to have a stakes-winner on a big carnival day at Eagle Farm with his talented Cosmic Force three year-old gelding Cosmic Fire soaring to new heights when taking out the $200,000 Listed BRC Queensland Day Stakes (1200m).
Successive Stakes Wins For Flying Artie’s In Flight
With all her wins being on soft and heavy rated tracks, trainer Joe Pride has chased the rain of late with 4yo Flyng Artie mare In Flight winning the Listed BRC Bright Shadow Stakes last time out at Doomben, before scoring a late dive victory at Randwick on Saturday in the Listed ATC Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m).
Third Generation Epsom Derby Hero for Coolmore
The Group I Epsom Derby (1m4f) was the big highlight overnight in the UK and the scratching of Godolphin owned favourite Ruling Court due to track condition meant it was an open affair with the second string horse from Ballydoyle in Lambourn coming up trumps and also bringing joy for the Aussie offshoot of his family.